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“Agate Bridge” Petrified Forest, Arizona

On my way to Southern California, I had the opportunity to make a quick detour and drive through the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. According to the signage in the park, that area of Arizona was covered with a dense, lush forest millions of years ago. Because of the extreme climate changes and floods through the ages, the forest was covered with silt and the trees underneath became petrified. (Please excuse my overly simplified explanation here, I have the most unscientific mind of anyone I know). What we now see as a very harsh landscape is the result of the ever changing climate conditions throughout those years. My favorite location in the park was the Agate Bridge, a fallen petrified tree about twenty five feet in length, that over the years had turned into agate. As you can see in the painting of it, the tree is supported by a cement piece running the length of it. This helps preserve the tree during the spring flooding. I can just imagine the Native Americans thousands of years ago, of which there was plenty of proof of in the remains of dwellings and other items they utilized at that time, making use of the Agate Bridge, rather than taking the long way around to come home.

To view this episode of “Painting Journeys”, click on the highlighted title of the painting, “Agate Bridge”, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona or go to http://www.wscssheboygan.com. Go to VOD (video on demand), select the playlist “Painting Journey” “Agate Bridge”, Petrified Forest, AZ.